A question of balance Speaker offers work-life wisdom
LOREN BENOIT/Press Senior learning strategist, business coach and professor Dr. Heidi Scott speaks about work-life balance during The Business Forum on Wednesday afternoon at Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn.
TJB Real Estate Counselor Tim Gilreath fills out a work-life balance worksheet during The Business Forum Wednesday afternoon at Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — It’s OK to take a moment for yourself, unplug and “go dark.”
In fact, senior learning strategist, business coach and professor Heidi Scott recommends it.
"Vision is the heart and soul of potential, and I really do believe that. It fosters synergy, it becomes a filter for decisions, and I encourage you to make a million dollar appointment with yourself and go dark,” she said. "If I had a million dollar appointment on my calendar, I would not be late. I would show up. I would be prepared. It’s a million dollar appointment, and that’s the kind of appointment we’ve got to set with ourselves on our own calendar to craft a vision."
Scott, who holds a doctorate in leadership and has extensive experience with leadership and learning, delivered a motivating speech Wednesday during The Business Forum, held at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.
She spoke to a room full of aspiring business leaders, professionals, retirees and others about "Moving Toward Work-Life Balance."
It starts with reflecting on priorities and following the three steps of WIN: Where? (name your most important priorities in life); Imagine (in living color, imagine your desired destination for each priority); and Nitty-Gritty (create action plans with accountability to move toward making your vision storyline reality).
"When is the last time you asked somebody, ‘How are you?’ and that’s been met with, ‘Ah, I’m busy, I’m crazy busy,’” Scott said. “Now let’s flip it. How many of you had something like that come out of your own mouth when someone asked you, ‘How are you?’
“This culture, whether we’re male, female, whatever generation we belong to, we’re all impacted by living life like we’re out of control at this hectic pace. It’s become the norm to be so busy."
Scott stressed the importance of using calendars and following through with appointments, whether it’s penciling in time to spend with family, chipping away at projects or accomplishing larger goals.
She asked Business Forum attendees to envision their storylines, begin their action plans and start planning the necessary steps toward balance in their lives.
She gave these pointers for effective storylines: Write them in present tense; write with detail so they feel real; and write as though it's a day in the life that person wants to live.
"When life becomes a series of fire after fire after fire, that then becomes a way of life," she said. "We allow that, and sometimes we have to dig our heels in and say, 'No more,' and come back to what's most important."
Once priorities are in order on a personal level, Scott said, the reward spills over to business life.
"This life vision, it becomes the blueprint for your business plans, or your life plans," she said. "Without the vision, there is no plan. It's cattywampus. It's all over.
"That clear vision, when I know where I'm leading and I'm casting that vision regularly, as a leader, it helps me get people off my bus, if you know what I mean. It helps them find the exit without me having to fire anyone because they know exactly where we're going, and it gives them an opportunity to say, 'That's not really where I want to go,'" she continued. "Likewise, as you're recruiting and that vision is very clear for where you're going, you collect the people along the way. They want to be a part of where you're going. They're excited to join your company, your group, your department, your team."
Scott's presentation included a few exercises for attendees to write down some goals, share thoughts among their tables and take a moment to just be quiet and reflect.
"We just have such a hard time achieving balance," Business Forum leadership team member Brandilyn Collins said as she introduced Scott. "No greater person is there to speak to you on this topic than Dr. Heidi Scott."
The Business Forum is a community-focused program run by Real Life Ministries in Post Falls. Every Business Forum team leader has experience in the business world and carries a passion for supporting business leaders in the North Idaho area.
The next Business Forum will be held in September. Monthly lunchtime roundtable forums are scheduled to start next month.